The image of America one often gets from the news is of a polarized country filled with endless arguments, political violence and accusations flying through the air.
At the same time, I’ve been surprised by the abundance of goodwill, volunteerism and community activities in the United States.
Our recent visit to the small town of Grand Marais in upstate Minnesota was a good reminder of that.
As WPI fellows, we were welcomed to stay overnight in local homes. We were surrounded by volunteer travel staff who took care of us, and were fed at a potluck dinner by local home cooks offering a variety dishes — just a few examples of the many kind gestures we experienced.
Small communities rely on volunteerism to support many of the organizations in the community, says Alyssa Hedstrom, a resident of Grand Marais.
“I also see people leaving politics behind when they are helping their neighbors,” she adds. “I especially see people working together across politics when it comes to supporting the youth in our town.”
Hedstrom worries, however, that volunteering may be declining in general, especially in places where only a small few meet a lot of the community’s need.
“From schools to church, clubs, supporting older community members, classes, highway pick up, everyone is asking for the help of volunteers,” she says.
Individual responsibility and community services seem to be at the core of American ideals. It appears people have grown into a sense of duty to give back to their communities.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 137.5 million people (54.2%) helped or exchanged favors with neighbors, such as housesitting, running errands, or lending tools between September 2022 and 2023. This is an increase from 51.7% in 2019.
Over 75.7 million Americans (28.3% of the U.S. population age 16 and up) formally volunteered through an organization between September 2022 and 2023, joint research by the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps reports.
National rates of volunteering have bounced back after the COVID-19 pandemic, but the number of hours per person is declining.
Data released by the Census Bureau in November 2024 shows that formal volunteering, like helping food banks and non-profits, is rebounding. Informal helping like bringing groceries to a neighbor, is also on the rise.
These acts of kindness aren’t limited to charming small towns.
In Minneapolis, an unnamed school parent was moved by the community’s response after the tragic school shooting at Annunciation. As a sign of solidarity, neighbors wrapped trees with ribbons in the school´s colors and filled yards with signs of hope.
Families organized “meal trains”, a gesture where friends or community members provide meals for someone in need after a significant life event.
In Minneapolis, thousands also joined a walk around a local lake, while an outpouring of donations was made to the Annunciation Hope and Healing Fund.
“Local pro athletes even came to play with the children. A small act, but it really helped the community start to heal, and put a smile on the kids´ faces,” the school parent shared.
A school shooting is, of course, an extreme case, but I have noticed how even in everyday life, teachers receive support from parents. Teachers often create Amazon wish lists for classroom necessities. Parents frequently show up to unbox the items and set up the classroom at the beginning of each school year.
In a society lacking universal social security or healthcare, it becomes essential for people to take care of one another.
In the coming years, new surveys will reveal whether the renewed engagement in U.S. volunteering and civic life seen in 2023 was a temporary spike or an ongoing trend.
